Can a Device Predict when You are Going to Have a Seizure?

In the May 2, 2013 issue of the journal Lancet Neurology, Doctors Cook and a group of Australian investigators presented results from a pilot trial of a long-term implanted device designed to predict and count seizures in adults who have drug-resistant epilepsy.

Of 15 patients implanted with the device, the system correctly predicted seizures

• with a high warning 65% of the time, and better than 50% in 11 of the 15 patients.

• Eight of the 11 patients had their seizures accurately predicted between 56% and 100% of the time.

• Three patients did not meet performance criteria; one required device removal because of a side effect before sufficient training data was acquired.

• There were 11 device-related side effects noted within four months of implantation, two of which were serious, (migration of the device and/or seroma). Two other serious events occurred the first year after implantation (infection or device site reaction), but were resolved without further complication.

The investigators concluded that intracranial EEG monitoring is feasible in patients who are outside the hospital with drug-resistant epilepsy. This may serve as the pilot to further assess whether seizure prediction becomes a reality.